The Best Compact SUVs and Crossovers for Hauling Cargo

We rank how much stuff these tall wagons can hold in maximum cargo-hauling mode.

By
Connor Hoffman

Jul 11, 2018

Car and Driver

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Car and Driver

Can you visualize 50 cubic feet? Yeah, neither can we. That’s why we translate the storage and cargo space of the vehicles we test in depth into more easily graspable units of measurement, from golf bags to ping-pong balls to carry-on suitcases. Doing so helps pull the cargo volumes automakers publish out of the abstract. Easily the most relatable metric is the number of carry-on bags that fit in a given vehicle. Say you’re taking a trip or picking up family from the airport; you’d want to know just how much a car can swallow, right?

So, rather than rank the compact-crossover segment by cold cargo-capacity numbers, we’re ranking the class by how many carry-ons each SUV can hold in maximum-cargo mode, with every row of seats but the fronts folded flat. (This levels the playing field among two- and three-row compact SUVs, since vehicles in the latter group usually hold less stuff behind their third rows than two-row models behind their second rows.) Our test numbers are calculated using cardboard boxes equivalent in size to the average-size carry-on bag, 9 by 14 by 22 inches, physically loaded into these crossovers’ cargo holds and counted. For any ties, the manufacturer’s cargo volume (in cubic feet) with the rear rows of seats folded becomes the tiebreaker—and we’ve included those volumes for each SUV to help you equivocate between them and carry-on-luggage capacity. Click through to see where the carry-ons fall:

Despite its boxy exterior and competitive seats-folded cargo volume, the 2018 Compass is not the roomiest of this set of vehicles. This makes sense: The Jeep slots between the subcompact and compact classes, although we categorize it as the latter. We fit 17 of our carry-ons into the Compass with the rear seats folded and only six with all of those seats up.

Read more about the Compass’s storage and cargo capacity in our in-depth review.

Unlike the Compass, Jeep’s Cherokee falls solidly in the compact size class, though its cabin is tight compared to many competitors. For 2019, Jeep attempted to address one of our previous complaints with the Cherokee: its relatively limited cargo space. The automaker widened the cargo area by about three inches, but this did not change the Cherokee’s standing much. Although this Jeep is, externally, much larger than the Compass, it only swallows one additional carry-on bag inside.

Read more about the Cherokee’s storage and cargo capacity in our in-depth review.

Even with its three rows of seats, the 2018 Tiguan doesn’t hold a top spot on this list. More seats don’t equate to more cargo space since the extra row of seats is simply crammed into a still-compact body. With all of the seats down, we only fit 19 of our carry-on boxes, and with all of the seats up, including the third row, we fit only two. So, if you’re planning a trip with six people or hauling the family around town, don’t expect to bring much with you.

Read more about the Tiguan’s storage and cargo capacity in our in-depth review.

The CX-5 was completely redesigned for 2017, and the changeover massively upgraded the sporty SUV’s style and refinement. Too bad it also stole some of the CX-5’s practicality. The current-generation model holds nine carry-ons with seats up, one less than its predecessor, although the completely flat load floor means the space is more functional.

Read more about the CX-5’s storage and cargo capacity in our in-depth review.

In our test of the 2018 Sportage, we declared that the cargo storage is disappointing for a compact crossover—although only when you leave all of the seats up. We could only cram eight of our carry-on boxes in the cargo hold in this configuration. However, dropping those rear seats down opens up class-average space.

Read more about the Sportage’s storage and cargo capacity in our in-depth review.

Fitting 22 of our carry-on test boxes with the seats down, the 2018 Tucson has adequate cargo storage that’s average for its segment. But take note: As in its corporate sibling, the Kia Sportage, raising the Hyundai’s second-row seats results in a rather tight cargo hold. We could only shove seven carry-ons behind the seats.

Read more about the Tucson’s storage and cargo capacity in our in-depth review.

The 2018 Rogue keeps up with the segment’s Joneses with its class-average maximum cargo capacity. Nonhybrid Rogues even feature a variable-height load floor, which can be raised flush with the folded rear seatbacks and trunk opening or dropped a couple of inches lower for a little extra space.

Read more about the Rogue’s storage and cargo capacity in our in-depth review.

Despite only fitting eight of our carry-ons with all of the seats up, the 2018 Equinox has some pretty useful quirks in the cargo area. Drop the Equinox’s split-folding rear seat using the nifty release handles in the cargo area (which automatically flops the seatbacks flat with no additional input needed via the side doors), and a completely flat load floor makes for easy loading of bulkier items.

Read more about the Equinox’s storage and cargo capacity in our in-depth review.

Beyond its lack of a center rear-seat pass-through, which is handy for fitting long items in the rear of the vehicle, we have no complaints about the Escape’s cargo-gobbling abilities. In fact, the Ford’s cargo capacity is impressive given its slick, windswept external appearance.

Read more about the Escape’s storage and cargo capacity in our in-depth review.

Being able to fit 24 bags within its boxy body lands the 2018 Terrain near the head of the compact class. Though it isn’t accounted for in our carry-on-capacity data, the GMC also offers a fold-flat front passenger seat, which affords owners still more cargo space.

Read more about the Terrain’s storage and cargo capacity in our in-depth review.

In our testing, we nestled 10 of our carry-on boxes behind the rear seat in the CR-V, matching the Mazda CX-5 and the Ford Escape. However, throw those rear seats down, and the CR-V rises above those rivals.

Read more about the CR-V’s storage and cargo capacity in our in-depth review.

Mitsubishi’s Outlander doesn’t rank near the top of many lists—certainly not our overall compact-crossover rankings—but it sure can hold carry-on luggage. In spite of its lowish cargo volume, the Mitsubishi swallows 27 carry-ons with its second- and third-row seats folded. (Along with the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Outlander is the only nonluxury compact crossover we’ve tested with a third row.) Although the third row limits its seats-up capacity to two carry-ons, it has easy-to-fold second and third rows that, when down, create a flat load floor to help it fit the most carry-ons of any compact crossover we’ve tested.

Read more about the Outlander’s storage and cargo capacity in our in-depth review.